Telephone-system.



C. S. WINSTON.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION men mm: 28. 1913.

Pater [ted Feb. 27,1917.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

CHARLES S. WINSTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOIR. TO KELLOGG SWITCHIBOARID AND SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORIORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented F9112? 1917.

Application filed. June 28, 1913. Serial No. 776,256.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. VINSTON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city of Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to common battery telephone systems and is more particularly directed to means for controlling the ringing of a called-for substation, andto providing means for changing from automatic ringing to manual ringing for night service or for other occasion. An object of my invention is to provide a reliable and eflicient organization of the character referred to.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a circuit arrangement illustrating one form of my inventlon, the arrangement comprising the common battery substation A associated with a common battery line C, a cord circuit D, and a common battery substation B associated with the line circuit E, and a number of other common battery lines terminating at the switchboard in circuits line C and E are assumed.

Substation A is of a well-known common battery type connected by line limbs 1 and 2 to line circuit C, comprising cut-off relay CO and line relay LR, line lamp L and multiple jacks J. To the right of the drawing I have shown a four-party line, four substations B, B B B being indicated, the line terminating at the exchange in line circuit E similar to that at C.

Cord circuit D comprises answering plug P and calling plug P the said plugs P and P being connected by talking conductors, the talking circuit being indicated by the heavily marked conductors T and S. Associated with the answering end of the cord circuit are the switching relay SW and the supervisory relay SR which conjointly control the supervisory lamp 5. Listening key LK is provided to connect the operators set 0 to the cord circuit. Associated with the calling end of the cord circuit D are switching relay SIN and supervisory relay SR jointly controlling supervisory lamp 6.

For ringing purposes I preferably employ four generators b, 6 b 6 each one being of a different frequency, while the bells of the subscribers on the party lines are tuned to correspond with the frequencies of the said generators. It is to be understood, however, that my invention is not limited to party lines. In ringing the called-for substation one of the contacts 7, 8, 9 or 10 is actuated depending upon the frequency of the bell of the called-for substation. The contacts 11 and 12 are master contacts associated with the ringing contacts and are closed when any one of the key plungers for contacts 7, 8, 9, or 10 is fully depressed. The ringing key plungers have three positions, normal, intermediate or locking, and fully depressed. l/Vhen the key is in its fully depressed position, its ringing contact and the master contacts 11 and 12 are closed; in the intermediate or looking position its ringing contact is closed but the master contacts 11 and 12' are at normal. The ringing key plunger remains in its intermediate or looking position until another key plunger is depressed when the said locked key restores to its normal position.

A double pole, double throw switch S is subscribers bell is intermittently rung when the automatic control is used by means of the interrupter relay IR, in an energizing circuit opened and closed by interrupter I, when the switch S is thrown to its position for automatic ringing, but when the switch S is in position for manual ringing the interrupter I is disconnected and the relay IR energizes from battery through the upper terminal of the switch S to ground at alternate contact 12 of the master contacts. The ringing control relay RCRis only actuated when switch S is in automatic position and when one of the key plungers is fully depressed operating the master contacts 11 and 12, whereupon the opening of contact lire moves the shunt from around the relay RCR, permitting its energization.

Operation.

Calling subscriber A takes his receiver down from the switch-hook closing an energizing circuit for the line relay LR, line lamp L being displayed.

The operator observing the signal inserts a plug P into the answering jack J, current over the ring contact energizing the cut-elf relay CO and etlacing the lamp Upon the insertion of the plug, an energlz ng c1rcuit for the supervisory relay SR is closed, traced through winding 16, conductor S, the sleeve plug and jack contacts, line limbs 2 and 1, the tip plug and jack contacts, conductor T, through the upper winding of relay SR to ground. Relays Sl/V and SR being energized, the supervisory lamp 5 '15 not lighted.

The operator then throws the listening key LK and learning B is wanted, she takes theplug P and tests the wanted line touching the tip of the plug P with the ring contact of the jack J If the line is idle the ring contact is at a ground potential and the operator does not receive the customary busy click through her head receiver. If the wanted line is busy battery will be connected through the relay SW or SW of another cord circuit to the ring contact, tested jack and through the cut-off relay to ground, and when the tip touches the ring contact, the operator will receive the customary busy click.

Assuming the called line is idle, the operator inserts the plug P into the jack J and an energizing circuit is established for the cut-off relay CO and the switching relay SW traced over the ring plug and jack contacts. Upon the energization of the switching relay Si /V a circuit is closed through the supervisory lamp (3, traced through contacts 17-19, lamp 6 remaining lighted until the subscriber answers. The closing of contact 20 connects ground from contact 21 with relay ROE and battery 22, but the relay BUR does not energize due to the shunt circuit through 11 and 23.

Assuming switch S is thrown to its lower position (that for automatic ringing), the

operator depresses the proper ringing key, say, 7 to its fully depressed position momen tarily shifting the master contacts 1.1 and 12, the normal contact 11 opening and removing the shunt from the relay RCR, which is energized over a circuit traced from ground at 21, contact 20, conductor 24, relay RCB, resistance 25, contacts 39 and 3a: to battery. The said relay ROE now remains energized due to the opening of the shunt circuit through its normal contact 23.

The relay RC1 has now closed a circuit through interrupter relay TR, traced from battery 22 through interrupter 1, contacts 10 and 86, relay TR, alternate contact 23, contacts 20 and 21 to ground. Intermittent energizations of relay IR actuating contact 26 connect generator 5 to the contact 7, tip conductor T thus intermittently ringing the bell of the substation.

The locking relay RCR is preferably a slow release relay so that it may not accidentally prematurely deenergize if a substation condenser discharge should mo1nen tarily energize relays SR.

When the called subscriber answers a circuit is closed through the relay SR being traced from battery through its lower winding 30, normal contact 27 of relay IR, sleeve plug and jack contacts, line limbs 2 1 tip plug and jack contacts, normal contact 26, the upper winding 31 of relay S1 to ground energizin the supervisory relay SR thereupon its normal contact 19 puts out supervisory lamp 6, notifying the operator that the called substation has answered. The opening of the normal contact 21 of relay SR deenergizes RCR, whereupon contact 23 opens the interrupter circuit of the relay IR, preventing further energizations whereby ringing current remains excluded from he called line. The armature of relay RC1 falls back closing contacts 127 and 128 restoring the continuity of the talking conductors T and S. The subscribers are now in conversation over a circuit traced by the heavily marked conductors.

When the subscribers have finished conversation they restore their respective receivers to their switch hooks, deenergizing, respectively, relays SR and SR whereby lamps 5 and 6 are displayed and the operator withdraws plugs P and P restoring the cord circuit and line circuit apparatus to normal.

Ua'lled Zine rimg manually.

Assuming now that the switch S is thrown into its upper position, in which case the ringing of the called-for subscriber is manually controlled, the operation is the same as described previously up to the time that the operator presses one of the key plungers. in the manual ringing the operator presses the key plunger to its third or fully operated position closing contact 7 and operating the master contacts 11 and 12. lVhen the inaster contact- 12 is shifted, relay IR is energized, its circuit being traced from battery 22, contacts and 36, relay 1R, conductors 25, 37 to ground; the consequent closing of alternate contact 26 applying ringing current to the tip conductor of the cord circuit ringing the called subscriber as before. The operator can, if she desires, intermittently ring the called subscriber by alternately depressing and releasing the ringing key plunger. It is obvious that except when the operator actually keeps her hand on the ringing key to hold it in its third or depressed position, the called subscriber will not be rung as the plunger returning to intermediate position opens contact 12 to deenergize relay TR. Thus the features of ordinary manual ringing are presented. in

this case the relay CR is not actuated at all its as contact 39 is on open circuit. Disconnection is the same as previously described, the operator removing the plugs P and P from their respective jacks to return the cord circuit D to normal making it available for other connections.

It is to be understood that the different battery and ground symbols may be one. I also do not wish to be limited to the exact structure as illustrated, as many modifications and-changes can be made. by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, but I intend to cover such changes which come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A switchboard having telephone lines, an operators link circuit, a relay therefor controlling application of ringing current to subscribers lines and included in circuit connections arranged for automatic or manual control thereof, and a switch for disabling the automatic control of said relay while leaving said manual control operative, said switch also being adapted to disable the said manual control.

2. A switchboard having telephone lines, an operators link circuit and a ringing key therefor, apparatus responsive to actuation of said key to manually ring subscribers lines, apparatus responsive to actuation of said key to automatically ring subscribers lines, and means to disable said last mentioned apparatus, while said first apparatus is operative.

3. A telephone system including a telephone line, a source of ringing current and an operators ringing key having two operating positions, means whereby said source is applied to said line while the operator manually holds said key in one of said operating positions, means for maintaining said key in the other operating position when actuated and released by the operator, circuit devices thereon responsive to automatically apply said source to said line apparatus, whereby the response of the called subscriber disconnects said source from the line, a switch for disabling said devices and rendering them unresponsive to said key.

4. A telephone system including a ringing relay controlling a contact through which ringing current is supplied to the called line, a manual operators switch adapted to energize said relay at the will of the operator, a locking relay and a circuit for said ringing relay controllable thereby, means whereby the response of the subscriber unlocks said locking relay to discontinue the application of ringing current to his line, a circuit controllable by the operator for energizing said locking relay, a switch for rendering said circuit unresponsive to the operator.

5. A telephone system, including a relay having a contact directly controlling the ap plication of ringing current to the called line, automatic means for intermittently actuating said relay, means controllable by the called subscriber for preventing further actuation of said relay to disconnect said current from his line, a switch for rendering both said means ineffective and a manual operators switch for operating said relay for applying said ringing current while said means are ineffective.

6. A telephone system including a relay having a contact directly controlling the application of ringing current to the called line, automatic means for intermittently actuating said relay, means for manually.

actuating said relay, a magnet controllable by the called subscriber for preventing further intermittent actuation of said relay to disconnect said current from his line, and a manual operators switch for rendering either of said first means ineffective and for rendering said other means effective.

7. A telephone system including telephone lines, a cord circuit for connecting to said lines as called lines, a ringing key for the cord circuit, ringing apparatus including an interrupter or ringing relay, means whereby an actuation of said ringing key will cause an operation of said ringing apparatus to associate ringing current with a connected called line for automatic control, and a manual switch having circuit connections extending to said ringing apparatus whereby the actuation of said switch will render the automatic control of the ringing apparatus inoperative and place said ringing relay and apparatus under manual control of the operator through the agency of the ringing key.

8. A telephone system including telephone lines, an operators link circuit for connection thereto, a ringing key, an interrupter or ringing relay, a two-position manual switch having circuit connections for controlling said relay, a source of ringing current included in circuit with normally open contacts on the relay, and means whereby when said manual switch is in one position the operation of the ringing key will cause an automatic intermittent operation of the relay to apply ringing current to a connected called line and when said manual switch is in its other position said relay is actuated at the will of the operator to connect-ringing current to a connected called line through its said contacts and the automatic control thereof removed.

9. A telephone system including telephone lines, an operators link circuit for connection thereto, a ringing key, a ringing relay, a manual switch having circuit connections for controlling said relay, a source of ringing current included in circuit with contacts on the relay, and means whereby when said manual switch is in one position a momentary operation of the ringing key will cause an intermittent operation of the relay to apply ringing current to a connected called line and when said switch is in another position'said relay is actuated at the will of the operator through the agency of said ringing key to connect ringing current to a connected called line.

10. A telephone system including telephone lines, an operators link circuit for connection thereto, a ringing key, an interrupter or ringing relay and a ringing control relay, a manual switch having circuit connections for Varying the control of said relays, a source of ringing current, and

means whereby when said manual switch is in one position an operation of the ringing key will cause a continued operation of said relays to apply ringing current to a connected called line and place said relays under control thereover and when said switch is in another position said line control of said relays is removed and the ap plication of ringing current to a connected called line is efi'ected at the will of the operator through the agency of said ringing key.

11. A telephone system comprising a called telephone line, an operators link circuit connected thereto, a ringing key, interrupter and disconnect relays, circuit connections whereby a single operation of said ringing key energizes said relays to automatically and periodically apply ringing current to the called line, an interrupter to efi ect such periodic applications, and a man ually operated switching device whereby said interrupter circuit may be opened and whereby ringing current is applied only while said key is held operated.

12. A telephone system including a telephone line, a link circuit and a ringing key therefor, apparatus controlled by the actuation of said key for manually ringing said subscribers line, apparatus responsive to the actuation of said key for automatically ringing said subscribers line, and means for disabling said last mentioned apparatus while said first mentioned apparatus is operative.

Signed by me at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES S. WINSTON.

Witnesses:

G. E. MUELLER, B. OBRIEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ratents, Washington, I). C. 

